The Daily bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Hawaii]) 1882-1895, 1887-05-23


stitious and heathenish, and that
there is moral and natural right
which takes precedence OF legal
right, accompanying the instruction
by a gentle caution that if those
gentlemen neglected their own legiti-
mate duty aud meddled with the
affairs of their subjects, they would |
probably get their walking ticket by |
the first mail. In some cases where |
the instruction has been disregardcd
and the caution ignored, the people
have considered change of dynasty
expedient, and forthwith made the
change accordingly. The "Divine
right" theory has not proved the in
surmountable obstacle on such occa-
sions that one would suppose, were
it really believed to be "divine
truth"
Coming to Hawaii, we find small
kingdom in md-ocean, recently adj
mltted into the family of nations,
with many of the institutions of
Western civilization planted on her
soil, and government somewhat
analogous to that of some Older
countries. Tracing back her history
to savage times, we discover that
she, too, was ruled by a privileged
class, whose serfs the people were.
The white man has been instru-
mental in bringing about q great
change, setting the people free, and
establishing limited monarchical
government.
The conflicting claims of hcredi-
tary chiefs have not been, as in
many other countries, cause of
difficulty and disquiet. When the
last Kamehameha died, the kingdom
was without king, and no one was
left in the regular line of success
sion. Prince LunaliO issued pro-
clamatiOn to the people all over the
islands, in response to which they
almost unanimously declared that he
should he their king. The Legisla-
ture met, and elected him accord
ingly. When Lunalilo died, he left
no successor, and again there was
no king. The Legislature met again,
and elected the present sovereign,
David Kalakaua. Emma, the wife
of former king, deceased, was u
candidate for the throne, and she
was the favoritc of the native peo-
pie. But the legislative body was
skilfully manipulated by some of its
white members, who succeeded in
securing the election of Kalakaua,
with about a half dozen dissenting
votes. The demoniacal riot by the
disappointed and cnraged natives
that followed was quelled only by
the sight of American and British
. bayonets.
So the present king of the Ha.
, waiian Islands is not king by right
of Inheritance, but by vote of the
Legislature, secured by the white
mans management against the native
wish. OF the two candidates, tho
one elected was thought by the
. majority of foreigners resident to bt
. the most fit and proper. The people
of the country, who represent it,
. agriculture, its commerce, its indus
o tries, its enterprise, its progress, ant
:, its wealth, who pay the bulk of th'
:, taxes for the support of its govern
! ment, are the people who put th'
king on the throne. He was thei
choice, and they elevated him to hi
!, responsible position, hoping and be
;, lieving that he would reign wisely
and we'll. They intended that III
l.. should be the cOuntry's first gentle
q man and at the same time the ser
Q want of the people, drawing hi
n means of subsistence from them, il
If everything consulting their interest
e governing by his ministers, VIII
II alone should be responsible, AM
f always keeping his own hands off.
= 1t is n public and palpable fac
c that a reign which began full of pro
J. mise, has been extremely disappoint
f ing in its later periods. From tn
d very commencement the King ha
: had the great misfortune to hav
r around him in his private seclusio
G and as private advisers, men withou
principle Or patriotism, caring TO
i nothing and nobody but numbe
# one, and to these he has given
O willing ear, and entrenched himsel